Small and happy's Disney Friday!


Happy Friday! The last Friday in February too!

For today's Disney Friday it's just a little reminder from Elsa...if you've had anything annoying or frustrating happen this week, just (you know what's coming..) LET IT GOOOO! Whatever's been and gone this week is just that, gone, so it's time to start getting excited for the weekend break! 


Crank up some of your favourite music when you get home tonight and just have a dance around and shake everything off because it's the weekend and you work hard and we deserve some fun! 


I've actually had a really good week but I'm still going to be pumping out the pop tunes when I get home tonight. I might even throw in some Disney...


How do you celebrate it being a Friday?

Any instant happy songs that you play?

Sophia :)

Xxx

Small, happy and girl crushing! #4


Lily Collins.

The hair! Give me the hair please.

Who are your girl crushes?! 

Sophia :) x

Small and 10 happy things! #6

Well, I feel like this will be one of the quickest and easiest happy things feature I'll write this year. There's one reason for that and one reason only. The two glorious words to anyone working in education: half term.


As much as I usually like time off to be full of relaxing and watching tv I have been super busy and have been the world's biggest social butterfly this week! All this talking and catching up is probably why I am now again suffering from a sore throat this cosy Saturday. #cantshutmeup


So here we go, my ten happy things this week! 


1// Being at home at the start of this week in Sheffield with my Mum and sister. My sister is going through a bit of a rough time this week so while it's not easy for me it made her feel better having me there and it was lovely to enjoy a few home comforts :) 



2// Catching up with my teacher friends. On Monday I drove (well was driven!) over to Wakefield to catch up with some of my besties from my PGCE (teacher training) last year. We all took food and we we met at my friend's new house. As in brand new and her own! Mortgages people, this life is getting scary! Anyway, I got there and my friend's beautiful house and stunning kitchen was smelling of lovely roasted veg and sweet potato wedges. Everyone brought a lovely selection of fresh and healthy food and filled ourselves with squash and shared the highs and lows of our working lives! It's so nice to share with people who understand you but also who you have so much else in common with. It's almost as if teaching is how we met but our common interests and silly senses of humour have brought us so close together in a way I never expected when I started the course two years again. Funny what (and who!) life can bring you isn't it?



3// Having a beautiful and relaxing massage, mid week! I've already spoken about this on here but I firmly believe that I need to incorporate weekly massages into my life! Perhaps if I had Hermione's time turner I could just make it happen!




4// Going to see The Lion King at the Palace theatre in Manchester. Again, I've rounded this up already but this was certainly a highlight of the month let alone the week! I love the theatre and I hope to go much more often in the coming months and explore Manchester's thriving theatre scene.



5// Having a lovely catch up with my uni friends. On Thursday evening I was visited by three of my best friends from my time at the University of Liverpool. We went to Hale (read-posh part of Cheshire) and broke the bank dining at the Michelin starred, impossible get into, restaurant du jour. Lol jk, we went to Pizza Express but it was the fanciest Pizza Express I've ever been to and the service was absolutely outstanding!



6// One of those best uni friends staying with me. Leanne, one of the lovely ladies I used to live with at uni, stayed with me for a couple of nights this week. It was so nice to see that even though years have passed we findeach other's company still just as fun and easy as ever. That's what great, true friends are isn't it? Where you can just be completely, 100% yourself and you don't need to think about what you're saying. You just get each other.




7// Having a very rare splurge at the Trafford centre! On Friday I took Leanne on her very first trip to a Victoria's Secret store (come on Northern Ireland, catch up!) We were helped by a lovely sales assistant who helped us (such an enabler!) spend faaaar too much money in store. I came away with two lovely bras and a seriously long wishlist. All I can say is thank God the Trafford centre is a 50 minute bus ride away! 



8// A lovely Saturday where I could just catch up on tv and chill out. Those days are rare so I need to grab it with both hands! 



9// Great British Bake Off. I loved this week's again, it's becoming a lovely mid week pick me up. Who doesn't want a bit of Mary and Paul injected into their Wednesday? Fabulously English stuff and my girl crush on Abbey Clancy has definitely grown from this week's offering!



10// A mega sleep last night. It's been such a crazy, busy half term and I feel like it's all taken it out of me a little bit so on Saturday night we hit the hay at literally half 9 and I didn't wake up until 8. If you know me well you'll know that 6.45 is a low in so this was no mean feat! I am a still a very sleepy sausage but I am thinking of a Harry Potter film and maybe a nap?! This girl's sleeping patterns are getting a little bit cray right now. Maybe the teenage years are finally kicking in! 



So that's been my week, and what a hectic, jam packed one indeed! How was yours? What did you get up to? Let me know! Last week of #fabulousfebruary next week, actually can't believe that!


Chat soon lovelies!

Sophia x

S&H's Disney Friday: THE LION KING


Hello one and all and happy Friday! 


I have been so busy this week and felt bad I hadn't got this review up sooner but then I realised this was probably the most fitting time to do this review, on Disney Friday! 


So, on Wednesday evening my boyfriend and I went to see the wonderful spectacle that is The Lion King (the musical stage show) at the Palace theatre in Manchester.


I had seen it but years and years ago and boyfriend was completely new to it but I just we would both love it. The way it's done with all of the incredible animal puppets (although puppets seems like too small a word!) and music and costumes just brings the story to life on another level!


All of the classic songs feature like 'Circle of life', 'Can you feel the love tonight?, and 'Hakuna Matata' as well as a few specifically for the show. If I'm being really picky I could kind of see why they didn't feature in the movie as they weren't as catchy or necessary as the classics we know and love, but they still offered a different spectacle in terms of performance each time so that was lovely!


Standout performances for me were Scar (total scene stealer) and Nala however the cast were all very strong. Little Simba seemed a little out of his depth but he couldn't have been more than 7 years old so i just felt massively proud that he was getting up there and giving it his all!


The Palace theatre itself is very grand and beautiful inside. I'd never been before and it really had the West End theatre feel that I haven't felt in many other theatres outside of London so that added to my excitement!


With our tickets we also got some variety boxes. These basically consisted of many sweet treats which I ate none of and boyfriend devoured so he was on a massive sugar high! Also because we both declines our complimentary alcoholic drink, opting for soft, that was turned into two free ice creams at the interval! And yep, you guessed it, he are them both. I promise you boyfriend has the most lean, muscly, healthy physique you can imagine as well. Life, eh?!


Anyway, this is the kind of show that anyone could go and see and enjoy thoroughly! Families, friends, couples, it's perfect for all and they even managed to keep it fresh and current with some Riverdance and Frozen references! Yes really!


All in all it's a brilliant show, if it's coming to a theatre near you next I urge you to go! If you love the film you'll love love love this! 


Have you seen The Lion King? What's the best musical you've ever seen? Do you like the idea of musical versions of movies?


Sophia x

Small, happy and a Wednesday massage!




Yes, that's right. A massage.

At 10am.

On a Wednesday.

This is the stuff dreams are made of, am I right?! 

Anyway, I had a spa voucher from almost 2 years ago that needed to be used up pronto. I hadn't done it sooner because, you know, life, but I finally, finally (when the alternative was losing my mum's 50 quid that she paid for it) booked an appointment at the beautiful Spa 1877 in Sheffield.


You're probably unfamiliar with it if you're not a Sheffielder/lucky enough to be living there (feeling some home love after visiting Sheff week!) However, saying that, you might easily miss it even if you're from Sheffield! It's in the town centre on Victoria Street which is basically a little side street off West Street. All tucked away which kind of adds to the relaxation of the place I feel. It's easy to be relaxed when you're already out in some stately home in the country, it's another thing when you're in the city so the spa's slightly obscure location helps greatly!


I had booked in for an hour long Swedish massage and I was looked after by some wonderful staff at the desk. I wonder if in the interviews for spas managers check applicants' 'relaxation voice' because I swear every spa I go to the employees just have the most calming tone I feel instantly relaxed. So much so I'd forgotten that I'd already paid at the start and tried to again at then end!



The place itself is small but gorgeous. It's quite dark and atmospheric with a Moroccan/Turkish kind of look going on with lots of lovely cushions and lanterns everywhere. There was also a lovely relaxation area and three different types of infused water to enjoy here as well as a hot drinks and juices menu too.



Onto the treatment itself, the massage was blissful. I have large knots on my back and my masseuse was knot shy (haha get it?!) about really working them and trying to smooth them out. This is something I usually find is lacking slightly in massages so her pressure and strength was a lovely, welcome surprise! 


She was even understanding when I had to nip out mid treatment to use the loo! I had enjoyed the infused waters a little too much perhaps....


After the beautiful treatment I sadly had to get back to real life very quickly so I couldn't enjoy the relaxation room which you are entitled to use as a paying client so I nipped back up to changing room and got dressed again.


I must say there is something quite liberating about being able to go about your business in a robe and flip flops so I was sad to put on my normal attire!


I went back onto the streets of Sheffield and was hit with the sound of lorries and the smell of a Chinese restaurant (life!) however I was much much calmer, relaxed and I felt completely and utterly pampered!



There are seriously worse ways to spend an hour on a Wednesday! I have already suggested a spa day there for one of my best friend's birthdays in March, I just can't stay away from that infused water!!


Do you love massages and going to spas? Do you have a favourite spa/treatment? Let me know while I start chopping the cucumber for my DIY water infusions...

Check the spa out here if you're interested!
Sophia xxx



Small, happy and girl crushing! #3



Mila Kunis. Be my girlfriend.

Thanks,

Sophia 


S&H's celebrity female dinner party!

So a while back on the bus to work for no other reason than boredom I assume, I suddenly started think about five women I would have at a celebrity dinner party. I thought the idea would fleet across my brain but then I started to really think about it. Which women would I really want to sit down and talk and share a meal with? Who would have interesting stories to share? Who would make the atmosphere light and fun? Who would I like to see interact with each other? This last question gave me some great amusement when I began to imagine people like Miley Cyrus breaking bread with Queen Elizabeth...Anyway, I gave it some thought (almost missing my bus stop in the process!) and this is my list of five women I would like to have over for a dinner party for no other reasons other than they interest greatly me or they make me laugh! I think those are two good criteria for perfect dinner guests, no?




1// JK Rowling 

This is an obvious one, I could happily just sit with her on her own for hours and hours and ask her question after question. I'd love to hear all about her life, how it's changed now, how she actually sat down and wrote each Harry Potter (as in very detailed, I'm so interested!) what inspired and inspires her and what she wants for her future having already achieved so much. She's had some hard times too, she was pretty much bankrupt when she started with Harry and it's well know that dementors are her representation of depression so I'd be so interested to hear about how she dealt with those periods in her life although I realise this is not typical dinner party chatter!!


2// Victoria Beckham

As I've said before, I'm not a fashion expert by any means, I'm not even interested save the beautiful dresses that come around in awards season on the red carpet. However, Victoria Beckham intrigues me greatly and I'd love to meet her. She's one of these people that everyone has their own preconceived ideas and misconceptions about and I want to see what she's like for myself. She's a very inspiring woman, raising four children, keeping a strong marriage together and completely turning her image around to create a brand and a business that she is truly proud of and is achieving the acclaim of others high up in that industry. I think all of this makes her one powerful, awesome woman worthy of a dinner invite, don't you? I want to have a nice girly chats with her over some drinks and hear about how she juggles everything and how she gets the strength and determination to work as hard as she does whilst keeping all of the other plates in her life spinning! If we happen to talk about David (and look at pictures) then that's more than okay too...


3// Ellen DeGeneres

I basically just love her. She seems to be one of those people that just brings light and sparkle wherever she is. She's so funny and real and interesting, she is prime dinner party material. Especially if the tone gets a bit heavy as I fear it would with me interrogating JK Rowling, she is the perfect person to lift it and make everyone laugh and feel at ease! She's also met so many celebrities herself I'd love to her all of her anecdotes, as I bet she has thousands!


4// Kate Middleton 

Again, someone I'm really, really intrigued to meet. She is a classy and inspiring woman. I'd love to have her over and see what she's like and pick her brain. I just want to talk to her and get a feel for what she's like and what her life entails. I have such simple questions like: is everyday scheduled for her? What does she eat? How does she buy clothes? Does someone have to approve her outfits?! The list goes on and on...Obviously she'd be sworn to secrecy about a lot of things but I'm a big royalist and I'd love to be able to meet with her and give her a nice evening and a bit of a break from her royal duties which I can imagine get very tiring! If we happen to swap hair care tips and routines that would be more than fine by me, I need to know how she's keeps her hair so luscious! 


5// Jennifer Lawrence 

Do I need to explain this? She's fun, down to earth and she's done SO much already, she'd be such an interesting guest to have. I just feel like we'd get on and have a laugh! There would never be an awkward silence around the dinner table with her around even if she ends up putting her foot in it sometimes which I imagine would happen! I would love to see her and VB have a chat. I think they'd actually hit it off! I'd love to her her stories about filming The Hunger Games and her general red carpet experiences. She's one of the few Hollywood stars I think who would just give it all to you straight and really be honest and open up.


So there they are, my five guests. I could have easily had more and there were people like Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie and Mindy Kaling who I also thought of but these were there five I settled on. Five very diverse and strong women in their own way, living their own lives in very different ways. I think this would be a wonderful night don't you? 


Just not a bloody clue what I'd cook for them.....


Who would you have over? Any of the same people as me? I was thinking if doing a male dinner party list but I have a feeling the reasoning behind my choices would end up being much more....superficial. #sorrynotsorry


Chat soon!

Sophia x

Small and 10 happy things! #5


Hello there lovely people!! How you doing? So we are half way through February (say what?!) and for me it has been a very busy week with school assessments and what not. However, looking back there have also been a lot of highs and little special moments so let's have a nice recap and a catch up!



1// Stealing some time for Beauty and the Beast. Disney makes most weeks better, non? 


2// My class acing their first (and my first!) assembly! I won't do work happy things all the time but I do work in a challenging environment so the happy moments need to be celebrated greatly as much for me as for the kids! This week the whole class stepped it up for our assembly and to see children who usually skip school or are late or pull out of participating all rally together to do something they were proud of was really inspiring. I am so happy they feel safe enough to put themselves out there now. #emotional


3// The fact that the Sun is shining! This weekend especially has definitely seen Mr Sun not just poking his head out but actually baring all in an almost cloudless blue sky at several points! I'm feeling instantly happier and closer to summer already! 



4// My weather happiness has come at an ironic time as one of my other pieces of happiness this week was finally getting hands on (literally!) some touch screen gloves! These beauties are from asos (sold out I'm afraid now!) and they were a belated Christmas present from my sister's boyfriend so that was a lovely little surprise that came my way this week! They don't work 100% of the time as my fingers are far too small so the pressure from my fingertips isn't at end of the glove #smallandlesshappy) but they are beautiful anyway and I love them!



5// Celebrating Valentine's day yesterday the best way I know how: with my favourite person in the world eating my favourite food. The delicious natural and cookies and cream frozen yoghurt we had at yogberries in Hale, Cheshire was absolutely delicious! If you're in the area go please! They also deliver. Seriously.


6//  Having time to indulge in my new guilty pleasure...Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on itv player. As I have mentioned briefly I was a cheerleader at university and loved everything it entailed. As such, this reality show following the Dallas cheerleaders picking a new squad and training them is right up my street! It's dramatic, peppy and makes what I did at uni look like toddlers dancing at a disco. I know as much about American football as I do about quantum physics but I do know that Dallas' team are a huge deal so their cheer squad needs to be tight (bit of cheer lingo for you there) so the pressure is really on for these aspiring ladies! Pure guilty pleasure and reality tv at it's Southern charm best!



7// Taking the sensible road and having some 'me time'. I have been suffering with laryngitis as I've mentioned but I didn't stop my workout routine once much to the dismay of my boyfriend who said I was working myself too hard and delaying my recovery. My excuse was that you're silent for an hour in an exercise class and if I was at home there's absolutely no chance that would happen so surely I was giving my voice time to heal?! Despite my stubborn ways this Monday I gave my usual Zumba class a miss and actually listened to my body which was telling me I was drained, exhausted and needed the rest. So, I came straight home from work, watched some tv, did no work for school and just chilled out. It really did me the world of good and honestly set me up for the week. I am such a one for always pushing on, stiff upper lip, don't want to admit I'm poorly (think Monica on Friends) and all that but for once I'm really, really glad I took self care seriously this week. *pats on back* 



8// TV again but I have been loving Modern Family and Scandal recently. There is just much to watch at the minute, we are so spoiled for choice when it comes to good tv right now.


9// The fact that I am ending this week by heading home to Sheffield to see my Mum and sister. I absolutely can't wait to be reunited and to spend some proper time together without the stress of work(ish!) look how happy we are to be together, you can't go without that joy for too long! 



10// The Comic Relief Bake Off on Wednesday. Tell me you all watched this too?! I absolutely loved Dame Edna and I think Joanna Lumley is a class act. I just love the show so much and it always makes me think of Summer which is goood! Next week they've got Jonathan Ross, Gok Wan, Zoella and Abbey Clancy. Not only have I heard of all these people (rare for any celeb reality show type thing) but I LIKE all of them too so this will be really fun to watch and I'm sure this will feature in next week's happy things! 

What's made you happy this week? Are you experiencing a bit of Sun at the minute too? Do you have any tv guilty pleasures? (Please tell me you do!) 

Sophia x




Small, happy and quoting Shakespeare.

 
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

-Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare.


No one can deny, on this day or any other, that this sonnet might be some of the most beautiful words ever written about love.  
 
I hope that you feel loved today and everyday in all of love's forms, and especially I hope that you love yourself, that's the one relationship that lasts forever.  So make yourself happy today in whatever way that may be, shopping, reading, cooking up a feast or sharing it with loved ones.
 
 
Happy Valentine's Day,

Sophia x

Small and happy's Disney Friday!



Hello lovelies! 

A nice little romantic Disney Friday picture this week seeing as we are on the cusp of Valentine's weekend. Plus I adore Donald and Daisy so anything that includes them is a-Okay by me!


It's Friday! Have we all had good weeks? Mine has been a bit crazy to say the least, it's assessment week in school so it's been a lot of marking, looking at data and late nights! But as of 3.15 today I will be done! Lol jk, the kids will be done..I will be filing and marking and planning until boyfriend picks me up at 6! 


I am still very grateful for this break though as I know it is a unique one to my profession so I am grabbing this opportunity with both hands (and feet, and everything else!)


I am currently drafting this at just gone 6am having been up since 5.30. Why you may ask?! Well boyfriend is away and I've had to be home alone in the flat for the first time. I like to think I am a well put together adult but truth is I did not like the idea of sleeping alone. Also as we use his alarm (I always, always sleep with my phone off) I was panicking I wouldn't get up! So my body did that usual thing of knowing you need to get up so you wake up incredibly early! Anyone else ever do that?


Anyway, none of that will bring my mood down because it is Friday and I can't wait  to start the day, smash it and enjoy the weekend!! #pumped #deliriouslytired


What are you up to? Any special Valentine's plans for the weekend? Are you envisaging a crazy Friday 13th?! What's been the highlight of your week?

Sophia x

Small, happy and girl crushing! #2


Classic Marilyn. The epitome of sexy. They don't make them like this anymore. I just wish you'd had more happiness in yourself you beautiful lady.

Sophia x

Small and 10 happy things! #4

Another week over and it's my job again to round up the happy things that have made this week special. February is looking mighty fine so far, especially if the photo below is anything to go by. I slightly struggled writing this purely because time is going so fast it seems like Friday is coming too fast for anything else to have happened! But anyway...here we are :)




1// This absolutely beautiful sunrise on my way into work. As the saying goes red sky in the morning shepherds' warning and that was all too prophetic given some of the dramatic events in school that day. It was definitely a dangerous beauty this sunrise!



2// A brilliant Zumba class. It's always good to shake it off! It was wonderful to enjoy it at full strength after being poorly the week before!



3// My class doing some amazing weather reports for our topic on Brazil! They all loved getting into the role of the newsreader and it made me laugh so much. The pronunciations of some of the cities were priceless! 



4// A little Boots haul on Tuesday. I managed to be back in Altrincham town centre in time to quickly pop to Boots and pick up all the essentials, plus some non essentials too! My Barry M collection is growing by the week...



5// Lovely phone calls with two of my best friends. All of us living in different places and doing different things can mean that time just flies by without us catching up. It seemed to take us ages to find a time to chat but it was so worth it! An hour and a half on the phone discussing all the important matters of birthdays plans, life and of course, Bruce Jenner's apparent sex change (!) made for an unbeatable Tuesday evening! 


6// New issues of Cosmo and Glamour!  I am currently lying on my bed with both magazines and a mug of a green tea. If that's not perfect moment I don't know what is!


7// A visit from the 'in laws'. My boyfriend's parents came to visit yesterday and it was lovely to catch up with them. It's really nice that I feel so comfortable with them plus it's always nice to hear about how things are going back home!


8// Finishing another 24 season! I'm rewatching all the 24 series with Boyfriend and I'm loving experiencing it through his eyes as he watches it for the first time. All of the twists and turns have completely thrown him it's been hilarious!



9// Finally going bowling! We went to All Star Lanes in Manchester and it was fab. Not cheesy and tacky like the bowling alleys of my youth at all! It felt like a little piece of America as it was so authentic, with bowling pins displayed and the old school signs and what not. I totally lost though so my pride has taken a bit of bit this week..


10// Having a lie in finally! I've not been sleeping so well and this morning I managed to sleep in past the Sun rising! This is a huge deal as for most of the week I've been up before 6 (yes really!) so I was thrilled! 


What's made you happy this week? Seen any beautiful sunrises yourself? 

Sophia :)

Small and happy's cookbook wishlist!




So I am totally lusting after all of these cookbooks at the minute. You see, boyfriend and I are kind of becoming cooking machines right now. Pretty much every weekend we set aside time to cook a new recipe and we are loving it. I've followed the Hemsley sisters, Deliciously Ella and Inspiralized for a while now and read their blogs religiously but I feel like there's nothing better than just having the books in front of you when you're cooking. I hate squinting at a screen when trying to cook and then having to unlock the screen with foody, dirty fingers! #firstworldpains 


As well as this, I just like having nice cookbooks around. I barely buy clothes, so this is my treat! I am totally trying to justify these purchases but hey, you've got to eat right?! And these ladies are showing us delicious and nutritious ways to eat right. I'm so glad this way of eating and the focus on plants is becoming so popular. For ages I felt it was just me banging on about zucchini noodles and cauliflower rice to my non believing family for so long! So it's nice to say, 'see ACTUAL chefs do this!'


I would also love a spiralizer but I have limited space in my kitchen and a julienne peeler is doing the trick (for now) so I might put this one on the back burner but it would just open up so many options! Spiralizing a butternut squash?! Yes please!!


Do you have any of these books?  Which cookbooks are your most thumbed?  Can you recommend any good books/blogs to follow like these? Let me know!

Sophia :) x

Small and Happy's Disney Friday!


Happy Friday! I feel like this photo completely sums up my excitement for the weekend!

Don't you just love the fireworks at Disney? They're so magical. Usually I get a bit tired of fireworks but I feel like at the end of a magical day with all the music and the characters interspersed in the display Disney's fireworks makes for a perfect end to any day. I don't have them today so I'll just have to pretend with the help of this beautiful picture! Nevertheless, I am still feeling very joyful and happy to be saying hello to Friday once more :)

It's our first Friday in February too, can you believe it?! It's completely flown by and I am finally feeling better! Also the mornings are getting lighter too and it really feels like Spring is on the way. I am looking forward to catching up with some serious sleep and going bowling on Sunday! Yes, total big kid here! I am already preparing for my inner competitive nature (demon!) to be unleashed!

What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans?

Sophia x


Small and happy's TOP 10 girly movies!

I adore girly movies. As a massive Disney fan I'm sure this is no real surprise to anyone. I'm not a fan of chick lit at all, but when it comes to movies, I just can't resist a nice, heart warming boy meets girl story. 

I had a really bad week's sleep due to illness recently and one of the things I did while I was lying awake was try and think of my top 10 favourite romantic, girly movies. It turned out to be easier than I thought! 



Now I've listed them I feel like I need a massive marathon watching these with some of my girlfriends or my sister! One of my best friends is coming to stay in February as I've already mentioned so I reckon we'll have to crack some of these on over some food! Pizza for her, courgetti for me. #oppositesattract 



1// Legally Blonde. This film gave us the 'bend and snap' I feel like that should make it staple to any girly favourites list. However, it also includes the fabulous Reese Witherspoon, some serious girl power and some fantastic quotes, 'exercise give you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy, happy people just don't murder their husbands.' One of many gems. Oh and Luke Wilson (brother of Owen) is just beyond adorable in this too!


2// Bring It On. I loved this film even before I became a mega cheerleading fanatic at uni (yes, really and expect posts on this soon!) because it's just so deliciously cheesy and peppy and American! The underdog team, the bitch fights, the pulling together, the Hey Mickey dance off at the end...This movie just makes me very happy on so many levels! Now show me your spirit fingers!!


3// When Harry met Sally. The classic. The best. The ultimate. Watch it and then watch it again, and again. And yes, that is Mike Wazowski's voice! I feel like this is the romantic film that birthed all others. It is perfect and quite frankly, Meg Ryan's perm deserves recognition. Plus it's set in the big apple spanning the Autumn and Christmas period, is there a better time to be in NYC?!


4// How to lose a guy in ten days. I love this. Not only is Matthew McConaughey a total total dish but Kate Hudson is hilarious and the two of them have great chemistry. If you haven't seen this it's basically a tale of two bets gone horribly wrong but it all ends nicely and sweetly (with a nice New York backdrop as per!) and is definitely worth a watch! 


5// Aaah, Pride and Prejudice. When romantic films get classy. I know people love the BBC version and I get that, Colin Firth and what not. But, Joe Wright's version for me is just classic. The music, the supporting cast, an adorable ginger Bingley, the fact that Pemberley is Chatsworth (it's practically by my house! Ish...) all make it a delight to watch. Plus I love Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy and I think he and Keira Knightley are wonderful together.





6// About Time. This movie is perfect. So, so romantic and thought provoking and it's genuinely one of those movies that stays with you long after you've seen it. It really made me think about loving and appreciating every day. Beautiful movie. If you haven't seen I'd say it's about time you did! Oh, the wit...


7// Friends with benefits. This is just a fun, sexy, easy to watch comedy. You could watch this with your boyfriend and he wouldn't moan about it being too girly, plus it's got Mila Kunis so that should keep him happy too! It addresses the age old question of men and women being 'just' friends with a adorable performance from Justin Timberlake and some really fun supporting cast members too. A gay Woody Harrelson anyone? Yes, Haymitch from Hunger Games!


8// Miss Congeniality. This is just too good. I could watch this over and over. Sandra Bullock as the undercover FBI agent is a classic girly watch. It's got beauty pageants, Michael Caine and some good old fashioned beauty queen drama, I honestly don't know what is missing from this movie. It's brilliant.


9// Clueless. Ugh as if! Yes, how could I miss this movie off?! The modern retelling of Jane Austen's Emma is perfect to watch with your friends. You'll laugh at Cher's misguided matchmaking attempts and you'll swoon over Paul Rudd all the while coveting her ultra retro wardrobe!


10// Crazy, Stupid Love. I could just say the immortal words: Ryan Gosling and that would be reason enough to make this movie number one of your next girl night hotlist. However, Emma Stone, Steve Carell and some lovely, heartwarming storylines make this, in my opinion, one of the best romantic films in a long, long time.


Are any of these in your top ten? Are you a romantic comedy fan? What have I missed out?! Any recommendations? I feel shocked to realise I've missed out Mean Girls but that needs an honorary mention in its own category I feel! 


Sophia x




Small and happy's #fabulousfebruary



In case no one's realised from my last couple of posts I have discovered the app PicCandy haha! Creating the above picture (basically a 6 year old's doodle!) gave me much joy while I was lying in bed this morning too ill to get up! 


Anyway, I feel like I achieved and did a lot in January and I think it's because I really sat down and thought about what I wanted from those four weeks. As such, I'm going to do that again this month! February is such a crazy period because time just flies, those few little missing days that make the month shorter seem to make a world of difference! 


So to make this February fabulous I plan to:

*Play the host. This weekend we're expecting a visit from Boyfriend's parents which will be nice and we might even be cooking for them. This is a time to test the culinary skills! Although to be fair his parents are the most unfussy, easy going people when it comes to food and to quote Boyfriend 'we could serve then dried pasta and they'd eat it happily' so I think our food will pass the test!


*Play the host x2. One of my best uni friends is coming to stay in February and I can't wait for her to come! We'll just chill out, watch movies and just catch up and enjoy each other's company. It'll be so nice having that time together one on one which I don't think we've had for literally years! Plus I'd like to convince her to move to England so I shall be pulling out all of the Manchester/Cheshire stops!


*Go to a spa. I have a voucher that I got for my birthday almost two years ago that literally needs to be used PRONTO. If I lose my free massage privileges I will be devastated. These knots aren't going to loosen themselves! So, I am going to use half term to head back home to Sheffield and use the voucher for the spa there, Spa 1877. It's absolutely beautiful there and I am really looking forward to booking a treatment and just having some total relaxation time. I think I'll try and book it for the Monday. Everything always feels extra decadent when you're doing it at a time when you'd normally be working, don't you think?


*Go and see The Lion King. Boyfriend and I have tickets to see the show in Manchester and I can't wait. I haven't seen it for years and years and can barely remember it and he's never seen it on stage so this will be fab!


*Celebrate Valentine's Day-froyo style! We don't make a huge deal out of Valentine's day. We've never been ones for big material gestures and having spent so much of our relationship in long distance due to our university choices we are more used to planning special things to do together. Just seeing each other when you've been apart for weeks was wonderful enough without the need for presents and other splurges! So to that end we'll do what we have always done which is get each other a card and just make a point of doing something we love together (usually this involves nandos..) This year boyfriend suggested going for froyo (which is my all time, number one favourite thing) at our favourite place, Frurt in Prestwich in Manchester. The reason this one tops them all is because it's self service! As in like 8 different flavours and all the toppings you could want and you can just go to town and get as much as you would like (and I do, and then some) Last time my froyo ended up costing a tenner (it's calculated by weight...dangerous, I know) and I'm sure as it's a special occasion I'll make sure I hit that mark again!


* Go bowling! I wanted to do this last month as part of my 'do something different' pledge but we kept putting it back for various reasons so we're hoping to go one weekend this month. There's some really cool places in Manchester that offer it, it's not just Hollywood bowl streaming with kids anymore! Bowling gotten edgy!

*Celebrate Chinese New Year! Obviously I am not Chinese, however I love the Asian culture and one of my best friends in Chinese so I've always had a penchant for all things Oriental. I'm especially fascinated by their new year's celebrations. As Manchester has one of the biggest Chinese communities in the UK (think it's the largest outside of London but don't quote me on that!) the celebration here is a big deal. It starts on the 19th Feb and carries on through the weekend with a big parade on the 22nd complete with street food, a Chinese dragon and lots of music and performances. I really can't wait! I think this will be fantastic and something completely different. I love that Manchester is such a melting pot and I really want to try and experience as many different cultures and events as possible.


*Go to the cinema again! This was something that really made me happy in January and I am definitely going to keep this up. I'm think American Sniper next!



So all in all, looking at that list, bowling, Chinese dragons, hosting, massages, cinema trips etc. It's looking to be a quite diverse and exciting month, I almost don't know how I'll fit it all in, especially with that little, niggly thing called work! 

How's your February looking? Are you glad to see the back of January or was it a really good month for you? 

Let me know...as always, I'm desperately nosy! 

Have a lovely week :)

Sophia x

Small and 10 happy things! #3



Hello there all and goodbye January!!  

So in a week that involved some intense laryngitis, can I manage to think of TEN happy things?!  I think this girl can!  If you didn't get the reference there, then hold up a minute because my first happy thing this week is...


1// The 'This Girl Can' campaign.  I love that we are in a world where adverts like are being made and feminism and being a strong, competitive, athletic woman is something to be praised and admired.  I love it and it makes me smile and feel empowered every time I see it.

Check it out here if you haven't seen it or watch it again and jiggle if you feel like it!


2// Being able to finish work early on Thursday because of the snow. In a poorly week this was a Godsend!


3// Meeting one of my bestest friends ever for lunch yesterday. We had a lovely catch up and she's coming to stay with me in March. Zumba has been planned!!


4// Friday evening! Boyfriend and I have a lovely tradition now of him picking me up at work and then going to do our food shop and then cooking something lovely together and just chilling out. Sounds pretty simple but then, I love the simple things.


5// Almost missing my bus stop on several occasions! I know this doesn't sound good but trust me it is when you do it because your book is so engrossing!


6// Having some time this weekend to start thinking about Summer travel. Namely Bali and Singapore. These are the two places we're definitely thinking of hitting on our Summer Asian Adventure and I'm getting really excited learning more about what these places have to offer! 


7// A little H&M spree. I never really shop ever either for time reasons or because (and this is the main reason) I really don't enjoy it too much! However, every now and then I do like a little splurge and I had the time to do that this week because of the snow ending school early. It's always nice to add a few additions to the wardrobe!


8// My wonderful partner. I know this is super lame and cheesy but especially in weeks like this when you're under the weather I am so incredibly grateful for the person I share my house, heart and life with (I am under painkillers, remember this!) from reading my book to me to dashing out to buy paracetamol, he's such a gem and I am so lucky.
 

9// Pinning recipes and making new dishes. Tonight we're making a sweet potato, spinch and lentil curry and boyfriend is so excited because this means he gets to make another curry paste from scratch! I shall let you ll know how it goes! 


10// And finally, my massive highlight of the week. It was our school's poetry performance week and my class's performance was chosen as the best and they were asked to perform it again for the school. They memorised the whole thing and remembered their moves and seeing how nervous they'd been and seeing their pride and shock with all the praise they got made my heart absolutely melt. Completely an 'it's all worth it' moment. Every job needs them and this was a fantastic and joyful way to end the week! 


How was your last week of January?! Any highlights? Have you been to South East Asia? Where would you recommend?! 


Speak soon! 

Sophia x






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